I read with dismay in the Gazette (“State wants Smith Voke fields plan tweaked”) that the Smith Farm Fields, commonly known as the dog park, might no longer be open for public use. My wife and I moved here from New York in December and from my new home in Village Hill I have greatly enjoyed the almost daily walks I have taken through those woods.
We already knew that Northampton would be a great town to relocate to, but being able to enter an area from my doorstep and see a red fox loping through the snow has been the icing on the cake. While there may have been some issues with dogs, I have found them to be non-aggressive and well socialized.
The area is maintained at a high level; never any litter, and only rarely do you see a dog dropping. I have not seen any farm machinery as yet, but I don’t see how they would pose any more threat than the vehicles on the streets where people commonly walk, run, and ride bikes.
It seems incongruent to me that city of Northampton, which is constructing a municipal park at the approximate cost of $2.5 million to enhance the quality of life for its citizens, would allow the use of an existing treasure that promotes healthful activity and an appreciation of nature to be denied to the public.
I would encourage anyone who values this great resource to attend and voice their desire to keep this park open at the school’s trustees meeting May 17 at 5 p.m. in the Library at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School.
Gerard Simonette
Northampton